"THANK YOU FOR COMING FOR THE LAST THING WE ALL DO TOGETHER FOR JACK": FASCINATING AND EXCEPTIONAL ARCHIVE FROM THE INAUGURATION OF THE BRITISH MEMORIAL TO PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY, COMPILED BY BARNEY ROSS, PT-109 SURVIVOR AND KENNEDY CAMPAIGN AIDE, FEATURING AN INVITATION; ORDER OF SERVICE; COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM —ONE OF ONLY 100 COPIES SPECIALLY BOUND FOR PRESENTATION BY JACKIE KENNEDY—FEATURING A TIPPED-IN ORDER OF SERVICE WARMLY INSCRIBED BY JACKIE KENNEDY; TYPED SIGNED LETTER BY JACKIE KENNEDY; A PHOTO ALBUM WITH PICTURES OF JACKIE KENNEDY, EDWARD KENNEDY, PRINCE PHILIP, AND THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND; AND MORE

(KENNEDY, Jacqueline) KENNEDY, John F. Archive from the Inauguration of the British Memorial to President John F. Kennedy, including program inscribed and typed letter signed with envelope free frank. New York and Runnymede, London, 1965-66. Printed invitation, with original envelope, measuring 5-3/4 by 4-3/4 inches; Air Force Special Air Mission passenger list, measuring 13 by 8-1/4 inches; Order of service, measuring 5 by 7-1/2 inches; pp. 4; Commemorative program: Quarto, original full red morocco gilt, gilt Great Seal and monogram, marbled endpapers, uncut and unopened, with tipped-in inscribed order of service; Photograph album: Quarto binder, gilt-stamped leather-patterned paper boards, with Jackie Kennedy presentation slip; Typed letter signed: Single sheet of armorial stationery, measuring 6-1/4 by 9-1/4 inches, in original envelope with autograph Jackie Kennedy free frank. Collection housed in custom chemise and clamshell box. $19,500.

Extraordinary archive from the Inauguration of the British Memorial to President John F. Kennedy, compiled by his fellow PT-109 survivor and campaign aide, Barney Ross, featuring a commemorative program—one of only 100 copies printed and specially bound for Jackie Kennedy—with a tipped-in order of service wonderfully inscribed by Jackie Kennedy, an album of original photographs with 21 images by White House photographer Cecil Stoughton, and a signed typed letter from Jackie Kennedy thanking Ross for a special silver-gilt box and for attending the ceremony, as well as assorted original correspondence and documents related to the event.

The British memorial for President John F. Kennedy was dedicated in May, 1965, by Queen Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy, prior to a reception for the Kennedy family at Windsor Castle. The memorial consists of a garden and Portland stone memorial tablet inscribed with the famous quote from his Inaugural Address: "Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty."

This archive comprises eight items related to the opening of the J.F.K. Memorial in Runnymede, England on May 14th 1965. The archive was compiled by Barney Ross, a PT-109 survivor. "Ross was a Navy Ensign in the Solomon Islands in 1943 when he asked the future President if he could ship aboard the PT 109 during a night patrol. Six hours later, the boat was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer. Ross and Kennedy spent a week on an Island with the other nine crew members. Help came when a coconut that Kennedy had carved a message on and set a float was found by other Americans. Ross went into the insurance business in Illinois after the war. In 1959, Kennedy asked him to help with his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. When Kennedy became President, he named Ross to the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Crime. Ross also draft proposals for the Peace Corps and VISTA, its domestic counterpart" (Youngstown Indicator). Included: 1) An invitation to Mrs. Barney Ross (Patricia Ann Trude) seating her in the American Embassy section, with original envelope; 2) Air Force Air Mission Passenger list featuring both Senator Edward Kennedy and Ross (a special diplomatic flight adhering to a strict schedule and protocol); 3) Order of service for the ceremony; 4) Morocco-bound commemorative program containing the speeches made at the inauguration by the Queen, Dean Rusk, and others, with 5) Tipped-in order of service warmly inscribed by Jackie Kennedy ("Dear Barney, Thank you for coming for the last thing we all do together for Jack—With love Jackie, May 14, 1965"); 6) Photograph album with 21 photographs by White House photographer Cecil Stoughton capturing the Royal Family, the Kennedy family, and other dignitaries, as well as the memorial, with 7) Presentation slip on "Mrs. John F. Kennedy" letterhead, reading: "May 26th Dear Barney: Cecil Stoughton, the White House photographer, asked me to send you this album of photographs from Runnymede. It was great seeing you and Pat, [signed] Pam; 8) Typed letter signed by Jackie Kennedy, reading: "March 15, 1966. Dear Barney: I just received the lovely vermeil box which you and other friends of Jack's sent me in memory of our trip to Runnymede. You will never know how touched I am. I shall treasure it forever. It meant so much—your coming to England with me—I don't think any of us will forget Runnymede. I do thank you. Affectionately, [signed] Jackie, with 9) Original envelope free-franked with Jackie Kennedy's signature. Annotations to SAM Flight passenger list specific to Ross.

Only a couple faint marks to invitation and envelope, light staining to order of service, only light wear to extremities of program and photograph album, tipped-in order of service fine, tiny hole punch to folded typed letter and envelope (just touching envelope free-frank), and expected minor soiling to envelope. A fascinating archive in exceptional condition.